Diamer Protest Continues Despite Government Efforts to Resolve Deadlock
The protest by residents affected by the Diamer-Bhasha Dam entered its 20th day on Sunday, persisting despite a meeting in Chilas between a federal committee—formed by the prime minister—and the demonstrators in an attempt to break the impasse.
The protesters are demanding the implementation of a 31-point charter, which includes their rehabilitation, allocation of agricultural land, and other key concerns.
Government Assurances
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, who met with the protesters, assured them that the government had prioritized the rehabilitation of those displaced by the Bhasha and Dasu dams, as well as the overall development of the region. He pledged to address their demands regarding financial compensation, resettlement, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Additionally, he announced the establishment of a ‘Danish School’ for the area.
The minister also directed WAPDA officials to expedite land compensation payments and oversee the construction of 23 schools.
Protesters Demand Immediate Action on Feasible Requests
During the meeting, the affected community presented their grievances to the federal committee, which subsequently instructed a technical team to draft recommendations for the federal government.
Hazratullah, a representative of the protesters, stated that while they were not insisting on the immediate fulfillment of all demands, the government could demonstrate its commitment by addressing key issues right away—such as financial relief for households yet to receive compensation.
“If you are serious about resolving our demands, you can start by addressing key issues like financial compensation for unregistered households, allocating six kanal of agricultural land to each affected family, and implementing confidence-building measures (CBMs) in healthcare, education, and resettlement,” he said.
He suggested that the committee should announce concrete measures during the meeting and provide a written assurance for the remaining demands.
“This way, we can assure the people that their concerns are being addressed and end the sit-in,” Hazratullah stated, emphasizing that the demonstrators had “sacrificed everything for the dam” and deserved justice. He added that while the people of Diamer were peaceful, they should not be forced to accept unfair terms.
Ongoing Negotiations
Despite the meeting, the protest organizers did not announce an end to the sit-in. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan and GB ministers Rehmat Khaliq and Shah Baig continued negotiations with the protesters to persuade them to call off their demonstration. However, as of the latest updates, no resolution had been reached.
